EAT YOURSELF WELL

Leading health culinary consultant Chef Gabi Kurz gives her top tips on what to eat to boost energy levels, improve sleep and stay healthy when travelling for business

Keep it light: although it might be interesting to explore local flavours, choose lighter foods and beverages to keep yourself balanced.

Stay hydrated: go for water, infused waters, Kombucha and other elixirs, or herbal teas. Choose mocktails instead of cocktails.

Snack healthy and often: snack every few hours instead of eating one heavy meal and keep some fruits with you; one or two apples, some grapes or crudités. Fruits and vegetables are great for hydration and are vitaminrich too. Combine them with a trail mix of activated nuts and you are all set. Dry fruits are great because they are easy to carry.

Avoid salty, sugary and fatty foods and snacks: swap empty calories from sugar or white flour products for complex carbohydrates.

Pick plants: plant-based foods are a travel-friendly trend as they are usually light, rich in vitamins and a great source of valuable nutrients.

To combat jetlag: stay hydrated to avoid headaches and the accumulation of toxins. Opt for foods that are high in vitamins, particularly in the morning, like a bowl of fresh fruit combined with oats, Greek yoghurt topped with flax seeds or chia seeds or a muesli. Some fresh-pressed juices and healthy smoothies can give you a much-needed energy kick and probiotics to start your day, something a classic coffee won’t give you.

To induce sleep: Foods and meals that aid sleep include vegetable soup, a wholesome rice dish, or potatoes, sweet potato and pumpkin, plus healthy fats such as avocado, cheese and nuts. Before bed, drink a large mug of tea with lemon balm or lavender.

Inside knowledge: my favourite restaurant in Dubai when it comes to trustworthy, well-executed and genuinely healthy food is Eatwell at the Dubai Herbal and Treatment

Centre. However, you can find something healthy on most restaurant menus in the Middle East nowadays. Most of the large hotel chains offer healthy buffet and menu options; for example, I love Revo Café at Anantara on the Palm Jumeirah, Folia at Four Seasons Dubai or Jumeirah Group’s Talise Spa Food Menu, which I helped to create.

DIY dining: if you stay somewhere with a small kitchenette, buy some ingredients at a local (organic) supermarket or farmers market and prepare your own healthy meals and snacks. Even if it’s just a salad or a quick soup, you know the exact ingredients that are in your meal. I always buy basics like olive oil, salt and sweeteners (honey for example). These are hidden ingredients in many dishes and restaurants often use cheap and poor quality varieties. If you make your own food, you are in control of the quality. As a freelance health culinary consultant, I travel a lot and this has proven very practical for me, particularly when I am working in one location for more than a month.

Healthy smoothies can give you a muchneeded energy kick